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I had my eyes on getting a Parfums de Marly for a while, originally wanted to get Layton Exclusif but couldn’t decide if it would be too masculine on the skin as it’s quite a while since I last had a sniff at it in-store. So, I opted for Delina instead, it’s a cult favourite and I just wanted to switch things up and went for a feminine targeted fragrance after a few unisex fragrance purchases.
Starting with the typical beautiful Parfums de Marly female perfumes bottle in blush pink with a silver ball sits at the lid, with a pink gem at its crown and a tassel around its neck. And let’s not overlook the luxurious outer packaging, it’s a solid box with velvet paddings inside to secure the bottle. Everything about packaging feels elegant, feminine and sensual.
Delina
The cashmere wood note infuses the fragrance with a velvety sensuality.
Parfums de Marley
Now onto the scent, composed by perfumer Quentin Bisch, Delina captures the essence of a sensual bouquet. This fruity-floral fragrance smells exactly how the bottle looks, ultra-feminine and romantic, though I wouldn’t necessarily put this in the sexy category. It’s very spring/warmer weather appropriate, feels very joyful and youthful. It’s giving me a well-dressed pretty girl image.
Top notes: lychee, rhubarb, bergamot and nutmeg
Heart notes: Turkish rose, peony, lily of the valley and vanilla
Base notes: cashmeran, cedar, incense and vetiver
This is very well blended and yet you can still pick out all the individual notes. I’d say the most prominent to my nose are lychee and rose, following by rhubarb and peony. The lychee is very sweet, the kind that’s very ripe and in season. Rose is quite tart and jammy, quite different from my other rose perfumes in my collection which I’m more used to i.e. greener and freshly cut. Rhubarb and peony really help to cut through the sweetness and tartness with some sourness and spice, also a touch of juiciness. All of this is grounded with a soft warm woody musky almost-amber base.
In the past, I only tested this on blotters before, and it smelled more floral then. Now I get to apply it on my skin, the fruitiness definitely comes through more. For me, it’s right on the edge of the amount of sweetness I could take. There’s some very nostalgic which I find hard to pinpoint, reminds me of scented beads for wardrobe or hard fruity candies, either way, it’s very different from gourmand kind of sweetness.
What impresses me the most is its performance. It has a lovely sillage that I’m pretty sure when you walk past anyone on the street, they will get a whiff of this soft scent. The longevity is outstanding, it lasts 12+ hours which is quite uncommon for a fruity floral fragrance that goes to show the high quality of the ingredients. On clothes, it lasts for days. Absolutely incredible!
Although it’s not my usual style of perfumes, I still like it a lot. However, I’m already eyeing up on the Delina Exclusif, it’s meant to be deeper, bolder, creamier and more oriental.
By the way, if you’re new to niche perfume, then this is a safe one to start with for sure. It has a broad appeal, just like many in the PDM line.
Available: EDP £195/75ml
Do you have a favourite Parfums de Marley perfume? 💕